Sources:
The Paston Letters. 1422 to 1509 A.D., Volume 1, compiled by Edward Arber and James Gairdner, 1872
The Paston letters: a selection illustrating English social life in the fifteenth century, edited by M. D. Jones, 1922
The letter:
To Edmond Paston of Clyffordis Inn, in London, be this Lettre take.
To myn welbelovid sone, I grete yow wel, and avyse yow to thynkk onis of the daie of youre fadris counseyle to lerne the lawe, for he seyde manie tymis that ho so ever schuld dwelle at Paston, schulde have nede to conne defende hym selfe.
The Vikare of Paston and yowre fadre, in Lenttyn last was, wher thorwe and acordidde, and doolis sette howe broode the weye schulde ben, and nowe he hath pullid uppe the doolis, and seithe he wolle makyn a dyche fro the corner of his walle, ryght over the weye to the newe diche of the grete cloose. And there is a man in Truntche, hyzht Palmer to, that hadde of yowre fadre certein londe in Truntche over vij. yere or viij. yere agoone for corn, and trewli hathe paide all the yers; and now he hath suffrid the corne to ben with sette for viijs. of rentte to Gymyngham, wich yowre fadre paide nevere. Geffreie axid Palmere why the rentte was notte axid in myn husbonddis tyme; and Palmere seyde, for he was a grete man, and a wyse man of the law, and that was the cawse men wolde not axe hym the rentte.
I sende yow the namis of the men that kaste down the pittis, that was Gynnis Close, wretyn in a bille closid in this lettre.
I sendde yow not this lettre to make yow wery of Paston; for I leve in hoope, and ye wolle lern that they schulle be made werye of her werke, for in good feyth I dar welseyne it was yowr fadris laste wille to have do ryzht wel to that plase, and that can I schewe of good profe, thowe men wolde seye naye. God make yow ryzht a good man, and sende Goddis blessyng and myn.
Wrettyn in haste, at Norwich, the Thorsdaie aftir Candelmasse daie.
Wetith of yowre brothere John how manie gystis wolle serve the parler and the chapelle at Paston, and what lenghthe they moste be, and what brede and thykknesse thei moste be; for yowre fadris wille was, as I weene veryli, that thei schuld be ix. enchis on wey, and vij. another weye. And porveythe therfor that thei mow be squarid there, and sentte hedre, for here can non soche be hadde in this conttre. And seye to yowre brothir John it weer wel don to thinkke on Stansed Chirche; and I praye yow to sende me tydynggs from be yond see, for here thei arn a ferde to telle soche as be reportid.
By yowr Modre,
AUGNES PASTON.
With modernised spelling (from source 2):
To Edmund Paston of Clifford's Inn in London, be this letter taken.
To mine well-beloved son, I greet you well, and advise you to think once of the day of your father's counsel to learn the law, for he said many times that whosoever should dwell at Paston, should have need to con defend himself.
The Vicar of Paston and your father, in Lent last was, were thorough and accorded, and doles set how broad the way should be, and now he hath pulled up the doles and saith he will make a ditch from the corner of his wall, right over the way to the new ditch of the great close. And there is a man in Trunch, hight Palmer too, that had of your father certain lands in Trunch over seven years or eight years agone for corn, and truly hath paid all the years; and now he hath suffered the corn to be withset for eight shillings of rent to Gimmingham, which your father paid never. Geoffry asked Palmere why the rent was not asked in mine husband's time and Palmer said, for he was a great man, and a wise man of the law, and that was the cause men would not ask him the rent.
I send you the names of the men, that cast down the pit that was (in) Genney's Close, written in a bill closed in this letter.
I send you not this letter to make you weary of Paston; for I live in hope, and ye will learn that they shall be made weary of their work, for in good faith I dare well say it was your father's last will to have done right well to that place, and that can I shew of good proof though men would say nay. God make you right a good man, and send God's blessing and mine.
Written in haste at Norwich, the Thursday after Candlemass day.
Weet of your brother John how many joists will serve the parlour and the Chapel at Paston and what length they must be, and what breadth and thickness they must be, for your father's will was, as I ween verily, that they should be nine inches one way, and seven another way. And purvey therefore that they may be squared there, and sent hither, for here can none such be had in this country: and say to your brother John it were well done to think on Stansted Church; and I pray you to send me tidings from beyond sea, for here they are afraid to tell such as be reported.
By your mother,
AGNES PASTON.
Notes: con = to know, to understand, to acknowledge.
doles = landmarks, a word from the Norfolk dialect.
hight = to be named.
agone = ago.
weet = to know.
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